Australia failing to stand with other nations on standardized packaging

Australia has been accused of failing to defend its standardized tobacco packaging legislation, with one report from regional talks in Singapore describing Australia as a “constant stumbling block” to other nations’ attempts to secure the right to follow suit, according to a story by Peter Martin in the Sydney Morning Herald.

A report from an unnamed observer at the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks was said to have spoken of efforts to “have language adopted to ensure that any nation that adopts strong tobacco control legislation is not sued or at risk.”

“Australia is and has been a constant stumbling block,” the report said. “I totally understand the desire to avoid language that implies that Australia’s position under current law is weak or language that implies additional protection is needed.

“But what I am really trying to understand is … Australia’s resistance to any language on tobacco, and its seeming lack of interest in working on language that would protect Australia and others from future tobacco trade-based litigation.”

The full story is at http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-fails-antitobacco-bid-20131212-2zaml.html.